2. Log in to (or sign up for) Google’s Search Console

To set it up, you’ll need to sign up for it and add your property (aka: website):

Once you’ve added your property, you’ll need to verify it.

I recommend using the “HTML tag” method of verification. Here’s how to use it:

First, go to the “HTML tag” box in the verification options box, expand it and copy the code inside of the text box under heading #1:

(IMPORTANT: Don’t close out this screen yet. You’ll need it for the final step.)

Next, you’ll need to paste the code you copied into your site’s header.

Most WordPress themes will include a section (usually inside their theme options) specifically for header code. This is where you’ll place the code:

If you’re unsure where your header code should go, Google your theme’s name followed by “header scripts.”

For example, if my theme’s name was “Tango,” then I’d type “tango header scripts” in to Google.

If you still can’t find it, or your theme doesn’t support it, then you can always download a WordPress plugin like Insert Headers and Footers that will provide a spot for you.

After you’ve added the HTML tag to your site, go back to the “HTML tag” box where you copied the meta tag and click the “Verify” button at the bottom-right:

It’ll take Google a few seconds to verify your site. Once it’s finished, you can proceed to step 3.

3. Submit your site’s sitemap to Google using Search Console

Once you verify your site and log in to Search Console, follow these steps to submit your site to Google:

(Side Note: I personally prefer using Google’s old Search Console, so that’s what I’ll use to show you how to submit a website and submit individual URLs—which I’ll cover in just a bit.

You can use the new Search Console—loaded by default if you’re a new user—to submit your site. But you won’t be able to submit individual URLs with it, as the new Search Console doesn’t appear to have that functionality.)

First, go to “Crawl” → “Sitemaps” → “Add/Test Sitemap” button:

Then, copy and paste the URL snippet of your XML file (do not include the entire URL) …

Every Google Algorithm Update and How to Benefit: Past, Present and Future Google algorithm updates are moments in internet history. If you work in digital marketing, they might even mark significant moments in your career history. The biggest Google algorithm updates get their fair share of publicity thanks to our mile-a-minute news media. Why is something that’s so behind-the-scenes such a big...

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Ty is the founder and owner of TyWrites.com. He specializes in B2B blog writing, content marketing, and SEO. When he's not helping B2B businesses engage their site visitors, you can find him reading, playing roguelikes, and building Lego towers on the floor with his son.